Athletic sock.



S. WEST.

ATHLETIC SOCK.

APPLICATION mw Auc.26,1912.

1,138,521. Patented Muy 4, 191.3.

UNITED STATES PATENT FFCE.

SIDNEY `VESI F WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

ATHLETIC SOCK.

Application filed August 26.

'ers prefer to use heevyivoolen socks since these :ire easier on 'the feet than ordinary socks of lighter .material These heavy woolen socks are held in place by garters in theordinnry manner, but the use of garters in playing these gaines is objectionable for tivo reasons. viz, first, it renders necessary1 heavy woolen tops of considerable length which are highly uncomfortable; and sec ond, because when the legs pers-pire the cliziiing of the -gaiters is apt to develop blisters.

The objeot'of the present invention is to avoid these objections and in furtherance of this object the invention proposes a sock havingf a short top which extends barely above the ankle and which has permanently associated therewith a securing strap' which takes the place of the usual garter and engages about the ieg just above the ankle. In

i preferred construction this securing strap is interwoven for :i considerable part of its length with the fabric of the top for the pnrposec preventing,F the top from becoming stretched and of insuring its regular fit upon the l "f when the securing strap is tightened. y this construction the use of garters is rendered altogether unnecessar nor are any other elements employed `Whic will cliafe the leg; and it is practical to use a top of short length, which as stiited, extends berely above the ankles and therefore promotes the comfort of the user.

Einbodiments of the invention are il1ustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective .view showing one of the improved socks asin use. Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view. showing more particularly the relation of the top f the sock and the securing strap. Fig. `8f is a sectional view showing that portion of the securing strap which is interwoven with the material of the sock. Fig. 4 is a detailed Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 4, 1915.

1912. semi No. 717,173. v

vertical sectional view on the line l5- of Fig. 2.

Similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

The foot oi' the sock as A may be of any, ordiii-.iry construction and the top B in the case of :in athletic sock is of heavy ribbed xvoolen fabric. This top B :is shown in Figs. 1 und 4 differs from the top of an ordinary sock in that it extends barely above the ankle and is not designed for engagementC by :i garter, but, instead, a securing strap'is employed which has one end uttachedwitli relative pei'rnanency to the top B some* 4what near the upper edge of the latter and its other end, free. This strap encircles the small part of the leg immediately above Athe ankle and 4serves to prevent the top of the sock from going below the ankle, and at the saine time keeps the visible portion of the sock above the top of the shoe unwrinkled. Adjacent the end of strap 'is a buckle 2 of ordinary construction which. is rovided to enga gc and secure the free end o said strap, and inwardly ot said buckle there is a keeper 3 through which ythe free end 'of the strap passes. This keeper is preferably of fnbric and. may be secured to the sock in any desired manner or it may be woven as a part thereof.

The strap 3 is preferably tissociated with the top B in the manner shown in Fig. 3, that is, by interweaving the strap for a, considerable portion of its length with the top so that the top and the strap are virtually integrally connected. This manner of esL sociating the strap withthe topA is of ad vantage, first, in that it provides mi intrinsicall strong connection between the strap and t e top. and, second, in that ii' werent.: the top from being stretched foi ,i portion of its extent when the strap engager. about the leg, as would be the case were the strap simply secured by a. line of stitching.

Athe improvement to socks of lighter material and not especially designed for fith letic purposes, in case such application shoud Yfor un); reason be found necessary or desirable.

Having fully claim:

As u new und complete article of manufacture, e sock, consisting of a lower portion adapted to Completely incase the foot of the wem-er, an upper portion integral with said lower portion and incasingthe ankle of the wearer, the upper portion being of :t length to come barely above the ankle, a strap permanently attached to said upper portion wholly Within the area thereof and adapted described my invention, I

to encircle thzitportion to bind the salmeV about the ankle of the Wein-er, the strap being interwoven for :i portion of its length with the material of said upper portion, and means carried hy said upper portion to secure the ends of the strap.

Y In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

SIDNEY WEST. Witnesses:

CMAS. S. Hum, JOHN S. POWERS. 

